UNC's Fedora explains hiring of fired Illinois coach Tim Beckman

University of North Carolina football coach Larry Fedora talks with reporters about his decision to hire fired Illinois coach Tim Beckman as a volunteer assistant coach for the Tar Heels. Beckman withdrew from the position Thursday after controve

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University of North Carolina football coach Larry Fedora talks with reporters about his decision to hire fired Illinois coach Tim Beckman as a volunteer assistant coach for the Tar Heels. Beckman withdrew from the position Thursday after controve

An oral history of the Tim Beckman era at UNC

The Tim Beckman era has ended at North Carolina. He leaves behind a colorful history, orange-tinted sunglasses included, that wasn’t without its lows.

What better way to remember the Beckman era than with an oral history:

LARRY FEDORA (UNC head football coach): I’m happy to get the chance to give him an opportunity to learn how we do things here, what our culture is. And I’ve known Tim for a long time, he’s a good football coach.

TIM BECKMAN (UNC volunteer assistant): I appreciate the opportunity coach Fedora gave me to stay connected to the sport and be around one of the best staffs in the country.

LUKE DECOCK (N&O columnist): It doesn’t take more than an ounce of common sense to realize the closest Beckman should ever come to an athlete again is a television screen.

CAROL FOLT (UNC Chancellor): When I first learned yesterday that coach Larry Fedora had invited former Illinois head coach Tim Beckman to serve as a volunteer with the football program, I was surprised and disappointed.

BUBBA CUNNINGHAM (UNC Athletic Director): Coach Fedora’s interest was in helping a coaching colleague get back on his feet.

BECKMAN: His willingness to help a friend was a benefit both personally and professionally.

FEDORA: Tim will no longer serve as a volunteer with our program. I brought Tim here to help a friend gain experience from our staff, but after meeting with him today, we agreed his presence had become too much of a distraction.

BECKMAN: I do not wish to be a further distraction to the team or University and I will no longer serve as a volunteer at UNC.

CUNNINGHAM: We made the decision today to part ways with Tim Beckman and thank him for his contributions in the short time he volunteered with our football program.

FOLT: The decision for Mr. Beckman to withdraw from his volunteer position was the right thing to do, and moving forward I don’t expect this situation to recur.